On LibertyTicknor and Fields, 1863 - 223 pages From the Introduction In his Autobiography, Mill predicts that the essay On Liberty is "likely to survive longer than anything else that I have written." He goes on to say that the essay is the expression of a "single truth: " "the importance, to man and society, of a large variety of types of character, and of giving full freedom to human nature to expand itself in innumerable and conflicting directions." In the essay itself, Mill defines his subject as "the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual." He defends the absolute freedom of individuals to engage in conduct not harmful to others, and the near-absolute freedom to express and discuss opinions of all kinds. Mill's essay survives, as he had predicted, because his powerful message is still widely rejected by the powerful, and by those who continue to seek power over the lives of others. |
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Page 21
... considerable jealousy of direct interfer- ence , by the legislative or the executive power , with private conduct ; not so much from any just regard for the independence of the indi- vidual , as from the still subsisting habit of ...
... considerable jealousy of direct interfer- ence , by the legislative or the executive power , with private conduct ; not so much from any just regard for the independence of the indi- vidual , as from the still subsisting habit of ...
Page 32
... considerable amount , form part of the political morality of all countries which profess religious toleration and free institutions , the grounds , both philo- sophical and practical , on which they rest , are perhaps not so familiar to ...
... considerable amount , form part of the political morality of all countries which profess religious toleration and free institutions , the grounds , both philo- sophical and practical , on which they rest , are perhaps not so familiar to ...
Page 91
... considerable amount of exactly those truths which the popular opin- ion wanted ; and these are the deposit which was left behind when the flood subsided . The superior worth of simplicity of life , the ener- vating and demoralizing ...
... considerable amount of exactly those truths which the popular opin- ion wanted ; and these are the deposit which was left behind when the flood subsided . The superior worth of simplicity of life , the ener- vating and demoralizing ...
Page 127
... considerable power . At present individuals are lost in the crowd . In politics it is almost a triviality to say that public opin- ion now rules the world . The only power de- serving the name is that of masses , and of gov- ernments ...
... considerable power . At present individuals are lost in the crowd . In politics it is almost a triviality to say that public opin- ion now rules the world . The only power de- serving the name is that of masses , and of gov- ernments ...
Page 135
... considerable . What little is left from that employment , is expended on some hobby ; which may be a useful , even a philanthropic hobby , but is always some one thing , and generally a thing of small dimen- sions . The greatness of ...
... considerable . What little is left from that employment , is expended on some hobby ; which may be a useful , even a philanthropic hobby , but is always some one thing , and generally a thing of small dimen- sions . The greatness of ...
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Common terms and phrases
admit argument asserted authority believe better Calvinistic cerns character Christian concerns conduct considered contrary creed custom defending desire despotism discussion dition doctrine duct duty effect enforced eral error ethics evil example exer exercise exist experience faculties feelings freedom grounds heretics human important impulses individual infallibility intel intellect interests interference John Knox judgment justify legitimate liberty limit mankind Marcus Aurelius means ment mental mind mode moral nature necessary never object offence opin Parsees party penalties persecution persons political Poor Law Board practical prevent principle profess punishment question quired reason received opinion religion religious require restraint rulers rules self-regarding sentiments side sion social social rights social stigma society Socrates supposed things thought tion tivation toleration trines true truth tween Tyrannicide tyranny unless vidual whole Wilhelm von Humboldt wrong
Popular passages
Page 36 - But the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.
Page 28 - ... not harm them, even though they should think our conduct foolish, perverse, or wrong. Thirdly, from this liberty of each individual follows the liberty, within the same limits, of combination among individuals ; freedom to unite for any purpose not involving harm to others ; the persons combining being supposed to be of full age, and not forced or deceived.
Page 24 - Liberty, as a principle, has no application to any state of things anterior to the time when mankind have become capable of being improved by free and equal discussion.
Page 41 - Not by experience alone. There must be discussion, to show how experience is to be interpreted. Wrong opinions and practices gradually yield to fact and argument : but facts and arguments, to produce any effect on the mind, must be brought before it. Very few facts are able to tell their own story, without comments to bring out their meaning.
Page 222 - ... a State which dwarfs its men, in order that they may be more docile instruments in its hands even for beneficial purposes— will find...
Page 24 - It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to say that this doctrine is meant to apply only to human beings in the maturity of their faculties. We are not speaking of children, or of young persons below the age which the law may fix as that of manhood or womanhood. Those who are still in a state to require being taken care of by others, must be protected against their own actions as well as against external injury.
Page 29 - The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental and spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.
Page 145 - ... the fact of living in society renders it indispensable that each should be bound to observe a certain line of conduct towards the rest. This conduct consists first, in not injuring the interests of one another ; or rather certain interests, which, either by express legal provision or by tacit understanding, ought to be considered as rights...
Page 28 - Secondly, the principle requires liberty of tastes and pursuits, of framing the plan of our life to suit our own character, of doing as we like, subject to such consequences as may follow, without impediment from our fellow creatures, so long as what we do does not harm them, even though they should think our conduct foolish, perverse, or wrong.
Page 66 - But it is not the minds of heretics that are deteriorated most by the ban placed on all inquiry which does not end in the orthodox conclusions. The greatest harm done is to those who are not heretics, and whose whole mental development is cramped and their reason cowed by the fear of heresy. Who can compute what the world loses in the multitude of promising intellects combined with timid characters, who dare not follow out any bold, vigorous, independent train of thought, lest it should land them...